Diggy comes calling to revive Congress

HYDERABAD: If the BJP leadership wants to emerge as a main rival to the ruling TRS in Telangana State so as to realise its dream of gaining power in the new State by 2019, the Congress leadership also hopes for restoring its 'past glory' in TS by deciding to launch an all-round attack on the ruling party in the coming days.

Like the BJP, the Congress has also decided to utilise the ensuing Medak Lok Sabha bypoll and upcoming elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to revive its electoral prospects by targeting the pink party.

A day after BJP chief Amit Shah had left Hyderabad for Delhi by setting the agenda for his party leaders to take on the ruling TRS, AICC pointsman to the State Digvijaya Singh descended on the city on a three-day visit to set the party house in order.

Apart from discussing the issue of whether to replace the TPCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah or not, and finalising the party candidate for the Medak LS bypoll, scheduled to be held on September 13, formulating strategies for the revival of the party are said to be on the agenda of Digvijaya's second visit to Hyderabad after polls.

Soon after his arrival, the AICC State affairs incharge closeted himself with the party seniors at Gandhi Bhavan here on Saturday. During the meeting, he is understood to have sought the party seniors' suggestions on how to rejuvenate the party in the State.

During the meeting, attended by TPCC chief Ponnala, TS Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader K Jana Reddy, former APCC boss D Srinivas, TPCC working president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao, former MP Ponnam Prabhakar, State Youth Congress head Ch Vamsichand Reddy and several others, Singh s learnt to have elicited their views on finalising the party candidate for the Medak bypoll.

KIRAN PHOTO DRAWS PONNAM'S IRE

Former MP Ponnam Prabhakar is understood to have expressed his ire at the way ex-CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy's photo has been kept hanging to the wall of Gandhi Bhavan even after bifurcation of AP. 'Kiran Reddy vehemently opposed formation of Telangana State. Is it appropriate to allow his photo?' Ponnam reportedly asked.

BRAINSTORMING SESSION

According to N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Digvijaya Singh would take part in the two-day brainstorming session of the Telangana PCC, which will begin on Sunday at an engineering college, near Ibrahimpatnam on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

SUNITHA EMERGES FRONT-RUNNER

Congress leadership is said to be in favour of fielding former minister V Sunitha Lakshma Reddy as its candidate for the Medak LS bypoll. When Digvijaya Singh sought the views of party leaders here on finalising party nominee for the seat, a majority of them are learnt to have backed Sunitha's candidature.

'Besides being a woman, Sunitha is from the influential Reddy community. She has a clean record as politico. Hence, she is a right candidate to take on the ruling TRS nominee,' a former minister, told.